Woodland feels at home in Missouri, leads PGA with 64

Toronto Star 09 Aug 2018 at 20:42

Sports

ST. LOUISâKansas-bred Gary Woodland felt right at home in enemy territory and delivered his best performance in a major Thursday at the PGA Championship.

Woodland used his power to birdie the two par 5s on the soft turf of Bellerive, and he relied on a new grip and new confidence in his putter for everything else on his way to a 6-under 64 for a one-shot lead over Rickie Fowler in the opening round of the yearâs final major.

Gary Woodland took the first round lead with a 64 at the PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St Louis.Â Â (Stuart Franklin / GETTY IMAGES)

Woodland recognized close to 100 friends and family among thousands in a gallery that withstood the sweltering weather, and his only fault was trying too hard. He made a careless bogey on the opening hole, had to make a 15-foot par putt at No. 5. And then he settled down and was on his way.

âThis week is as close to home as Iâve been,â Woodland said. âI snuck over here about a month ago and played the golf course. Really enjoyed the layout. The turf is very familiar to me. Itâs so hot here during the summer, so the greens are soft and slow. You can be more aggressive, which suits my game.â

Fowler played in the morning, when the greens were slight smoother, and made five birdies over his last 11 holes for a 65. It was an important start for Fowler, who turns 30 this year and already is regarded as among the best without a major. The closest he has come to such a trophy is celebrating those won by his friends.

âItâs not something I necessarily worry about,â Fowler said. âKeep putting ourselves in position, get in contention ... we have had plenty of runner-ups. Jack (Nicklaus) had a lot of runner-ups. Weâll just keep beating down that door.â

Bellerive allowed for low scoring, provided the ball stayed in the short grass. Woodland had an 18-foot birdie attempt on the 18th hole that would have tied the PGA Championship record, and it stopped just short. It was one of the few he missed.

Two-time major champion Zach Johnson and Brandon Stone of South Africa were at 66.

Dustin Johnson reached 5 under until a few wild drives on the back nine cost him. The worldâs No. 1 player had to settle for a 67, along with Jason Day, Justin Rose and eight other players.

It was more of a struggle for Tiger Woods, drenched in so much sweat that he changed shirts after 12 shots â that was only two holes and a tee shot. He had to make an 8-foot putt to escape with bogey on No. 10, and then dumped a wedge into the water for double bogey on No. 11. Woods was 3 over through seven holes, and then clawed his way back to even par for a 70.

âA lot of things could happen. Not a lot them were positive,â Woods said. âBut I hung in there and turned it around.â

Defending champion Justin Thomas let a good start slip away. He didnât make a putt outside a few feet over the last 12 holes and shot 69. Jordan Spieth, in his second crack at the career Grand Slam, opened with a double bogey and finished two bad swings off the tee that sent him to a 71.

The secret was simple: Avoid the rough.

Woodland, who played college basketball for one year at Washburn as a freshman before switching to golf at Kansas, is among the most powerful, athletic figures in golf. He had 145 yards to the front on No. 5 and couldnât get it to the green.

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